Flume joint support



May 17, 11932. n.. w. WYMAN FLUME JOINT SUPPORT Filed July 24, 1931 Y nD ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 17, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAURENCE w. WYMAN, or OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, AssIGNOB. To cALrroRNiAcoaRU-- GATED CULVERT COMPANY, F BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATIONOF `CALI-j I FORNIA FLUME JOINT SUPPORT Application led July 24, 1931. Serial No. 552,945.

The present invention relates to means for supporting and maintaining a tight joint between the adjacent ends of sheet metal I flume sections.

16 of time without attention. Another object is to provide a structure which is especially suitable for use with a simple lap joint between the adjacent ends of the flume sections. This form of joint is advantageous because '1g it presents a practically smooth interior surface, and also because it eliminates the necessity for forming beads or flanges upon the ends of the flume sections, such beads lor iianges being costly to manufacture and having a tendency to injure the galvanizing or other protective coating` of the flume sheets. A still further object is to provide a structure capable of supporting the flume by attachment to the sheets themselves Without the necessity for suspension rods or other separate means of support.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, which should be read with the understanding that the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts may be varied, within the limits of the claims hereto appended, without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in said claims.

A preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan View of the joint support in structure.

ig. 2 is a transverse section thereof, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. e.

In the drawings, the reference numerals 4 l and 5 designate two adjacent joined sectionsV of a sheet metal flume. Their ends are straight, that is to say without beads or flanges, and are overlapped to form the joint. The numeral 6 designates anysuitable form of frame or substructure upon which the fiume is carried, and'which may -be in the form of longitudinal 'stringersas indi-V cated, Vor merely individual posts, lorany other form common in this art. p 4 'j jj A crosspiece' 7 extends across and Vrests upon theV supports6 and may be, secured thereto in any suitable manner represented by screws 8. The crosspiece 7 'is preferably of channel section steely positioned with'its channeled side up as shown. Restingupon and within the -crosspieceV 7 area pair of T-shaped brackets 9.` j The depending. leg 10 of each bracket extends through a slot 11 in the bottom of the orosspiece 7 and is secured to the upper edge portion of the outer flume section 4 by any suitable means indicatedas bolts 12. To the upper edges of the Vinner flume section v5 are 4secured a pair of com-h pression lugs 13 by any suitable vmeans such as bolts 14. The lugs'lB have threaded stems which extend upwardly through the slots 15in the crosspiece 7 and the T-brackets 9. Nuts 16 are' threaded upon the stems of the lugs 13 below the crosspiece 7. The screws 8 securing the crosspiece 7 to the supports 6 preferably Vextend through slots 17 in both the T-brackets 9 and said crosspiece. Y

It will be seen that the weight of the fiume is carried bythe depending legs 10 'of the T-brackets 9, and is transferred by4 said' brackets to the crosspiece 7 and the supports 6. By having the outer horizontal arms of the brackets 9 overli-e the supports 6, the crosspiece 7 is relieved of a considerable p0rtion of the weight of the flume, and may be made lighter than would vbe necessary otherwise. By screwing up on the nutsl against the lower 'side of the orosspiece 7, the inner flume section 5' is placed under compression and forced downwardly against the outer' section 4 to form a tight jolnt. When once tightened, this joint ,is permanent there are no wooden parts involvedltof'shrink or decay, and loading of the flume tends'to in' The simple lap form of the jointA between the l sections 4 and 5 and the slots in the crosspiece 7 and the T-brackets 9 permits sufficient relative end-wise movement between the flume sections to provide for expansion and conftracton.

the upper edge portion of the outer trough section; a lug secured to the upper edge portion of the inner section; said lug movably engaging one .horizontal arm of said bracket; andfnieans for forcing said lug downwardly to tighten said joint.v

2. A sheet metal flume comprising a pair of trough sections havingtheir ends overlapping to form a joint ;`Y a supporting crosspiece positioned above said joint; a T-shaped bracketA carried by said 'crosspiece, lsaid bracket having its depending leg secured to the upper edge portion of the outer trough section; a threaded lug secured to the upper edge portion of the inner section, said lug extending movably through one horizontal arm of said bracket; and a nut'upon said lug below said bracket adapted to force said lug downwardly to tighten said joint.

3. A sheet metal flume comprising a pair of trough sections having their ends overlapping toform a joint; a supporting crosspiece positioned above said joint; a T-shaped bracket having its horizontal arms resting upon said crosspiece and its depending leg extending through said crosspiece and secured to the upper edge portion of the outer trough section; a threaded lug secured. to the upper edge portion of the inner section, said lug extending movably through said crosspiece and one arm of said bracket; and a nut upon said lug bearing againstthe bottom of said crosspiece to tighten said joint.

4. A sheet metal ume comprising a pair of trough ,sectionsV having their ends over- LAURENCE W. WYMAN. Y I6 lapping to form a. joint; a support beside 'f said trough; a crosspiece 4positioned above said joint and having its end carriedby said. support; a bracket having a horizontal arm associated with said crosspieceand extending Y above said support, and adepending leg secured to the upper edgev portion of the outer trough section; a lug secured to the upper edge portion of the inner section and movably engaging said y crosspiece; and means for forcing said lug; downwardly to tighten said oint. i f Y 5. A sheet metal flume comprising a pair of trough sections having their endsA overlapping to form a joint; a support beside said trough; a T-shaped bracket having;r one horizontal arm carried by said support and 55 its dependingleg secured lto the upper edge 

